Turin

Italians say that Turin (Torino), the major city of the western Alps and home of automaker Fiat, seems more French than Italian. Its wide boulevards in a grid pattern and its 19th-century architecture do bear more resemblance to Paris than Florence. A stroll about the city center provides architectural enthusiasts examples of Renaissance, baroque, turn-of-the-century and modern buildings. The Museo Egizio, located in the Palazzo dell’Accademia delle Scienze, has one of the finest collections of Egyptian antiquities in the world. Also of note are the Royal Armory (excellent ancient art), the 15th-century Duomo di San Giovanni (home of the Shroud of Turin, which is only on display a few times a decade), the Palatine Gate (built by Emperor Augustus), the Valentino Castle and the Galleria Sabauda (works by Italian and northern European painters). You could also tour one of the car factories or, even better, the great Car Museum. The city has enough of interest to justify a one-night stay, but no more. 80 mi/120 km southwest of Milan.